Defenceman Craig Ludwig was a solid player in his own end and a punishing hitter during his seventeen NHL seasons. His experience and savvy were an important factors on two Stanley Cup teams.

Born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Ludwig was chosen 61st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1980 after a strong freshman season at the University of North Dakota. He played with the Fighting Sioux for two more years and represented the United States at the 1981 World Junior Championships. In 1982, he was named to the WCHA second all-star team.

The 6'3" defender was a solid addition to the Habs' blueline in 1982-83 and went on to play eight years for the club. His steady work was a factor when Montreal reached the semi-finals in 1984, won the Stanley Cup in 1986, and reached the finals again in 1989. His game was based on playing the body and using a variety of tricks to foil opposition forwards.

The rugged blueliner spent the 1990-91 season with the New York Islanders before he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars. Ludwig remained with the franchise when it relocated to Dallas and developed into a league power in the late 1990s. He was a member of another Stanley Cup celebration when he helped anchor the Stars' blueline in 1998-99 before retiring.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1979-80

University of North Dakota

WCHA

33

1

8

9

32

1980-81

University of North Dakota

WCHA

34

4

8

12

48

1980-81

United States

WJC-A

5

0

0

0

12

1981-82

University of North Dakota

WCHA

37

4

17

21

42

1982-83

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

80

0

25

25

59

+4

3

0

0

0

2

1983-84

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

80

7

18

25

52

-10

15

0

3

3

23

1984-85

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

72

5

14

19

90

+5

12

0

2

2

6

1985-86

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

69

2

4

6

63

+7

20

0

1

1

48

1986-87

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

75

4

12

16

105

+3

17

2

3

5

30

1987-88

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

74

4

10

14

69

+17

11

1

1

2

6

1988-89

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

74

3

13

16

73

+33

21

0

2

2

24

1989-90

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

73

1

15

16

108

+24

11

0

1

1

16

1990-91

New York Islanders

NHL

75

1

8

9

77

-24

1991-92

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

73

2

9

11

54

0

7

0

1

1

19

1992-93

Minnesota North Stars

NHL

78

1

10

11

153

+1

1993-94

Dallas Stars

NHL

84

1

13

14

123

-1

9

0

3

3

8

1994-95

Dallas Stars

NHL

47

2

7

9

61

-6

4

0

1

1

2

1995-96

Dallas Stars

NHL

65

1

2

3

70

-17

1996-97

Dallas Stars

NHL

77

2

11

13

62

+17

7

0

2

2

18

1997-98

Dallas Stars

NHL

80

0

7

7

131

+21

17

0

1

1

22

1998-99

Dallas Stars

NHL

80

2

6

8

87

+5

23

1

4

5

20

1999-00

Michigan K-Wings

IHL

1999-2000

Dallas Stars

NHLMGNT

NHL Totals

1256

38

184

222

1437

177

4

25

29

244

WCHA Second All-Star Team (1982)

Traded to NY Islanders by Montreal for Gerald Diduck, September 4, 1990. Traded to Minnesota by NY Islanders for Tom Kurvers, June 22, 1991. Transferred to Dallas after Minnesota franchise relocated, June 9, 1993.